Most of us tech-heads know which device or technology sparked our interest first. It might have been something you owned as a child or an entirely fictional gadget from Star Trek. For me, the idea of being able to talk to someone miles away on the phone without having any wires connecting you seemed totally impossible. I had a fascination with mobile communication devices from a young age.

After that fascination, we tend to – sort of – develop preferences, and become fans of various manufacturers. At least, that’s how it was with general consumer tech. For mobile phones (until quite recently) there were seemingly tons of carrier exclusives. To get a particular phone, you’d have to go with a particular network operator. For the iPhone, that was AT&T for a long time. For the first Android phone, the G1, it was T-Mobile.

But some, like most of yourselves, are fans of a particular carrier and won’t choose a device if it means switching. Thankfully, that’s not as big a deal as it used to be. But I was curious, which device got you on to the magenta carrier. I first signed a T-Mobile UK contract in November 2005, and it was to get a particular phone: MDA Vario (pictured above).

Essentially, it was a hideous, bulky, clunky Windows Mobile device. It had a 2.8-inch display with a pixel density of less than 143ppi. It was no Retina, but it was incredible for the time. It weighed over 6-ounces, was almost an inch thick and 4.5 inches tall. It was also available in different forms, depending on which carrier you went with. Back in the day before HTC became a well-known brand, this was how it operated. Selling devices with the carriers’ choices of branding and bloatware. HTC TyTN was essentially the exact same device, but with a few hardware tweaks.

At the time, I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I was impressed that it ran a basic version of the software I used on PC. And, instead of typing using a fiddly onscreen keyboard, I could use the built in, horizontal-sliding physical QWERTY. I had it about 2 months before I ditched it for a Motorola V3i, the complete polar opposite. Ever since that day, I’ve had at least one line with T-Mobile.

I’ve had great phones and awful phones in the 8 years since then, but I’ll always remember the Vario as being my first “proper” smartphone and being my first phone purchased from Tmo.

But I’m interested, what device first got you hooked on to T-Mobile? Let me know in the comments, or tweet me: @TiP_Cam

About Cam Bunton

Cam Bunton, Managing Editor. A film school graduate from the University of Cumbria, UK, Cam's past life was in mobile phone retail. His passion for cell phones got him in to that industry, and then in to this one. A family man with three kids, he somehow manages to balance his work duties with family life and a runaway Twitter addiction. Follow him on twitter: @PhoneDog_Cam

When I moved to United States (Chicago) from Canada (Toronto), it was the Nokia 6133 flip phone. Worked like a charm for me and when I got one for my wife, within a year her’s broke that I started looking for replacement. Couldn’t believe that I would have to spend $130 to $150 for this phone back in 2008/2009 time frame.

Well, next was the T-Mobile G2 for me and then again my wife. And recently the Nexus 4 last year, and passed down to my wife again, with a Nexus 5.

Loved the Nokia 6133, and would have purchased a Nokia phone if it did have Android flavour. But Windows Phone is just not for me, no matter how many times I’ve tried playing with it. Sorry, Nokia… the 6133 will probably be my last.

Chaotic Bliss

I had some big, old Ericsson phone with a huge antenna. It was about 1999 and it was with Omnipoint. That phone was indestructible. Once, I drove off with the phone on the roof of my car. It hit the pavement and broke apart. I put it back together and it still worked!

Samsung e105 a very solid and sturdy flip phone with some pleasant ringtone’s

dcon9999

Same here — Moved from a Sprint TouchPoint 1100 to the Tmobile e105. Called the Tmobiel store 30 mins away at 8:20, they said they closed at 9. I was so done with sprint, I flew up there and made the switch at 8:45pm. Was a hot little flip…no camera yet, but still hot — Back in 2003… from that to the ugh – samsung 335? and x450? to the Mytouch3g – HTC Sensation, HTC Amaze, Galaxy s2, Galaxy s Relay…. But loving my Nexus 5 now

Dax

Came to TMO after following the development of Android
HTC G1
Samsung Vibrant
HTC G2,
Nexus 4
and The nexus 5 should arrive in 2 weeks!

Caffeine

TMO “Wing” by HTC…
Loved it at the time

Eric Blackman

do i go all the way back to powertel, which became voicestream, which became t-mobile? if so, it was some ugly blue motorola thing that had a sim card as big as a regular credit card.

JoserJDM

Back to 2006 when I first signed up it was the BlackBerry Pearl.. To the G1 then Samsung Vibrant.. Galaxy S3 to the S4 and now Nexus 5.

Shanesha

In 2004 I had a prepaid phone with Voicestream/tmobile I had the Nokia 3390, nokia 3595, a siemens phone that lite up, a flip samsung 6133 , a tmobile behold, blackberry 6280, blackberry 9700, mytouch4g, now the note 2 and the soon to be note 3 in the next 2 weeks!

Andrew Giddings

Amaze 4G. Went through 5 replacement handsets for various hardware failures and they gave me a samsung Galaxy S2 once the Amaze was discontinued.

Deez Knots

My first Tmobile phone was the HTC SDA, solid built and nice camera back in the day.

northrode

My first is the Galaxy S4 early this year. And if T-Mobile continues with the recent shoddy efforts at updating these phones with the latest software, it will also be my last phone with T-Mobile.

Nygma

Northrode, it is not T-mobile that stops the updating or Android upgrade process which is what I am assuming your referring to. It is Samsung and all these other phone manufactures. I have a Nexus 4 and everytime there is an Android upgrade I receive the upgrade the sametime it is released. While there are area’s where T-mobile needs improvement this one is not their fault.

northrode

You’re right. I was venting a bit about the Android update. And to be honest, I should not be in a hurry to update, as there are a lot of problems reported with the 4.3 update. It’s probably not a bad idea to get thorough testing. And funny you mention the Nexus. i was thinking I should upgrade to the Nexus 5 and keep t-mobile.

Chuck Fuller

I have had the N4 since Feb. NO problems at all…my biggest complaint is the battery…the VERY reason I will NOT opt for the N5, waiting on the LG FLEX

northrode

I was thinking about the N4 too. But I hear bad things about the camera. It also does not officially support LTE.

Nygma

My first T-mobile phone was the Sidekick

Angie V

I have been with T-Mobile for a really long time. My first phone was the Ericson T28 (I think). Since then:
Nokia 6110
Nokia 3390
Motorola
A630 – Serious love for this phone. I dropped it out a hotel window on
the 17th floor and my friend at the bottom found it because she could
hear me screaming through it. Yes I had been drinking. Such a workhorse
and great human factors design.
Motorola Razr
T-mobile G1
MyTouch 4G
Samsung Galaxy sII
Samsung Galaxy S4

Justin

Nokia 3390 now that ol’skool

Dominique Wilson

My first phone was the motorola cliq. Lol good idea not enough power behind. Had one of the best QWERTY keyboards i ever used tho. Since then. Nexus 1, Galaxy S Vibrant, Galaxy S3. I have another year before I upgrade again.

Moon Moon

My first phone was an Ericsson 768. Been with the company since they were VoiceStream.

the2000guy

HTC HD2… Original, then was tested running android 2.2 and 2.3. What a great experience this phone was.

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